Is "AI CRM for residential solar installers" a viable startup idea in 2026?

Design + quote + permit-pack in 15 minutes for 5-50 crew installers. The wedge: Photo of roof → 3D design + quote + finance options in 15 minutes.. Difficulty is rated growth with a workflow moat, so treat it as a 4–8 week ship-and-see build.

Who is the buyer for this idea?

Owner of a 5-50 crew residential solar installer. Reach them through seia + re+ conferences and facebook groups for installer owners. Skip broad SEO on day 1 — start where your first 20 customers already hang out.

How would you monetize it?

$300-800/mo per installer + per-proposal. Pricing is the most under-thought step for these buyers, so anchor to the outcome you replace, not the tool you resemble.

IRA subsidies + Google Solar API opening = greenfield for lean tools. That's the underlying shift — if it fades, so does the wedge.

What tech stack would you use?

Suggested stack: Next.js, Supabase, Google Solar API, and Lovable AI. You can build the v1 in weeks on this stack; the moat is workflow depth, not framework choice.

Who are the incumbents I'd be competing with?

Study Aurora Solar, Enerflo, and Solargraf — read their 1-star reviews, price ladder, and onboarding. That's where your positioning lives.